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Asperger's Syndrome and Me

Asperger's Syndrome and how it affects me:

A few facts and figures:

  • Asperger's syndrome was first identified by Austrian Hans Asperger in 1994
  • 20-25 in 10,000 children have Asperger's Syndrome
  • It is more common in boys than girls
  • Individuals tend to have an above-average IQ

Key Characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome:
 
  • Difficulty with social relationships
  • Difficulty with communication
  • Lack of imagination
  • Special interests
  • Love of routines
  • Sensitive to tastes, smells and sounds
  • Odd body movements such as hand-flapping or finger-twiddling

Asperger's Syndrome and me
 
I wasn't diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome until I was 17 years old. Until then I didn't really know who I was. Getting the diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome was the best thing that could have happened to me because now I know who I am and I understand why I am like I am. Aspergers Syndrome affects me in a number of ways:
 
  • I've always been sensitive towards sounds because I'm terrified of fireworks and thunder.
  • I'm also sensitive towards tastes - in particular the textures of food. I'm a very fussy eater although I have got better since I've got older.
  • I find it extremely difficult to read peoples body language.
  • I find hard to look people in the eye.
  • I sometimes say things which offend or upset other people without meaning to.

It makes it diificult for me to able to communicate with people. I am awkward in social situations and people who don't know me and don't know I have it just find me wierd which is what happened at school and that's how I became isolated.

My voice can sometimes sound monotonous and emotionless. I often hear high-frequency noises that go unnoticed by most people. I can sometimes hear the buzzing of the lights, TV, and other things, especially if I'm trying to fall asleep or it's quiet.

I frequently mishear people and sometimes don't hear them at all. If you say, "I went to the park today," I might hear, "I went tooth per day," or some other nonsense; and so I often have to ask, "Huh?" or "What?"

Alongside Asperger's syndrome I've suffered from depression which I'm through the worst of although it is still there a bit. I've also showed signs of panic disorder. Although my panic attacks are no where near as frquent as they once were I still have a lot of fears (and in some cases full on phobias). The main ones are:

  • Claustraphobia
  • Fear of flying
  • Fear of using the telephone (I don't mind answering it, I just won't use it to ring people)
  • Fear of public speaking

and those are to name a few. It's really inhibiting but again I'm getting better as my confidence is growing in my job. The other thing about me is I'm slightly obsessive about certain things like making sure the door to my house is locked if I'm the last one out, making sure everything's switched off if I'm last out and washing my hands after touching certain things like cleaning products and rubbish. I hate cleaning products and have to make sure there's none on my hands after I've used them and if I put something in the wheelie bin I have to wash my hands afterwards.

Other things we might do/find difficult:
 
There are a couple of other things that people with Asperger's syndrome might do or might find difficult:
 
  • We tend to take things literally.
  • Sometimes we might talk non-stop about something and not notice the other person is not interested.
  • Sometimes we find it hard to make eye contact, and people can misunderstand us, thinking we are shifty or dishonest.
  • We have difficulty picking up social cues, and difficulty in knowing what to do when I get things wrong
  • Sometimes we find it hard to keep a conversation going.

    • We are not crazy!!!
     
    People with Asperger's Syndrome are not 'wierd' or 'strange'. We are people with feeling just like everyone else.
     
    When I was younger I often used to talk like a little professor. People used to laugh at me.
     
    I'm quite obsessive when it comes to routine. I like to know where I'm going and what I'm doing. This is a disadvantage in work BUT because you don't have set routines because people are always off it's helping me to become less obsessed with routine and I'm becoming less anxious for it.
     
    My favorite saying is "I'm not crazy, my reality is just different from yours". I think it describes peopke with Autism and Asperger's Syndrome perfectly. People need to understand that we're not crazy our reality is just a bit different that's all.

    What Asperger Syndrome is not:

    •   an excuse for bad behaviour
    •   bad parenting
    •   mental illness
    •   extreme shyness
    •   stupidity
    •   curable or contagious

    What helps us?

    You should take time to understand people with Asperger syndrome.

    • You should explain things clearly and avoid sarcasm
    • It would help if people were accepting and tolerant of the condition, and to our sometimes eccentric behaviour.
    • It would help if people realised that we might not initiate social interaction, but will 'join in' on our own terms with assistance."
    • We need the rules making clear. We need telling what to do and what not to do in social situations.
    • It is helpful if you are clear and direct in a warm way.
    • Concentrate on our good qualities and talents.

      

    Sunday 6 April 2025 22:38